Belvedere offers $125K for land preservation deal
The move follows a recent $1 million commitment from Tiburon to help the Trust for Public Land complete the acquisition of the Martha Co. property.
Belvedere will contribute $125,000 to preserve the 110-acre Martha Co. property in Tiburon.
In a 4-0 vote, the City Council recommended that staff budget the funds for the Trust for Public Land to purchase the site for $42.1 million. The trust has raised $41.3 million.
“I happen to use that property and walk it as often as possible,” Vice Mayor Jane Cooper said. “I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to save a wonderful piece of property that we’ve all enjoyed, even if you don’t walk there.”
In March, the city’s finance committee reviewed the trust’s funding request and determined the city could contribute $125,000 from the preliminary 2024-25 operating and capital budget.
City staff noted the budget is restricted because of a 7.5% increase in the Tiburon Fire Protection District contract fee and several large capital projects, like the sea wall and retaining wall repair projects.
The budget also includes a payment of $185,000 to the fire district’s pension funding. The city plans to defer part of that payment to make its contribution to the land preservation deal.
“I think the full view there is that we wish we had more money to give, we’re just really constrained financially,” said Councilmember Sally Wilkinson. “It’s absolutely the right thing to do, and I’m sorry we don’t have more money to give than that.”
A coalition of groups led by the Trust for Public Land, a San Francisco nonprofit organization, recently secured an additional pledge of $1 million from Tiburon, which had pledged $1 million previously. The pledge will help the trust make the deadline to purchase the property.
“It’s an opportunity to take what has already been purchased in the 1990s and essentially double it, which would be a great biological benefit as well as recreationally,” said Jerry Riessen, president of Tiburon Open Space, a community group.
The area is home to threatened and special-status species such as the rare red-legged frog, serpentine reed grass and the Tiburon paintbrush plant. Also, the nearby tidal area has eelgrass beds, Riessen said.
“This really does feel like the last chance to protect this property,” said Erica Williams, a project manager for the Trust for Public Land and a resident of Tiburon.
Williams said once the property is purchased, it would be given to the county for the Marin County Open Space District to manage, making it a free public area.
Riessen said two measures passed by voters in 2022, Measure A and Measure M, show strong support for parks and open space and for purchasing the Martha Co. property.
Ken Johnson of Belvedere spoke in favor of helping purchase the property, saying that it is a rare chance to make a difference.
“This is a huge opportunity,” Johnson said. “Let’s get behind it and do the right thing.”
Councilmember Jim Lynch was absent from the vote.